Seventh International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

Prior to the immergence of social media, research had found that popular media had a profound impact on body image and body dissatisfaction—particularly among young women. For instance, studies had found that: the more frequently young women read magazines, the more likely they were to diet and to feel magazines influence their ideal body shape (Chueng et al., 1999); after only 4 minutes 70% of college women felt worse about their own looks after reading women’s magazines (Richins, 1991); and the introduction of American television programs to other cultures increased the incidence of dieting and body dissatisfaction (Becker et al., 2002). Although the media landscape has changed drastically since these findings were published, current research suggests that new technologies like social media have a similar impact on body image and mental health. This study explores ways that critical media literacy has been used to addressed body dissatisfaction in the past and offers suggestions for why it is necessary in the current media environment.